Tuesday, 30 July 2013

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding week approaches! What is World Breastfeeding Week? World Breastfeeding Week strives to normalize breastfeeding. Each year has a different theme.

This year the theme is Peer Support. Peer support is crucial for breastfeeding past a month. Peer support can range from a supportive husband/ family to a lactation educator. Even though breastfeeding is natural, there is the possibilities of challenges along the way. Some women are able to breastfed successfully with no challenges. Mother and baby are able to do the job just fine.

Myths

However, there are many myths surrounding breastfeeding. These myths can impact a breastfeeding relationship early on or later. For example, the belief that if baby wants to nurse frequently, it means that you have a low supply. This is simply not an indication of your supply. In the beginning baby's tummies are still quite small or they could be going through a growth spurt. You might hear the concept that breastfeeding has no benefits past 6 months. This is also not true. The WHO recommends breastfeeding until 2 years.

As well, there are some challenges that are momma specific like IGT, breast surgery and..... The interesting thing is women who have had surgery tend to be able to breastfeed. It depends on whether milk ducts were affected. Speaking with a lactation consultant can help a lot.

Baby Issues

There is also the possibility of baby issues. Tongue tie can reduce a baby's ability to latch properly. Another challenge can be ... Others babies just need to learn how to latch. It does not come instinctively to them.

Preterm babies

There are some instances where it is difficult to nurse a preterm (or multiple) Baby (ies). This include gestational age, the baby may be too young to latch, illness etc. However, in many cases it is possible to offer pumped milk. Donor milk is another option. I know it safety is a often cited concern Donor milk can be screened. It also recommended by the WHO if a) the mom cannot breastfeed b) cannot offer pumped milk and last is the substitution of formula. For mamas who haven't carried to term, it may not be possible to breastfeed at first but pumping can start the system.

Cesarean

Depending on whether your hospital practices family centered Cesarean breastfeeding may be a challenge. What is a baby-centered Cesarean? Kangaroo care, room sharing instead of the baby being whisked away to a nursery (although some hospitals only have a 'special care' nursery) or being taken away immediately for medical procedures.

Also, it is important to acknowledge that drugs can effect breastfeeding> Epidurals can potentially make babies very sleep and therefore harder to nurse.

Tandem Nursing

Many moms are misinformed about breastfeeding while pregnant. For the majority of women nursing while pregnant is possible. Some women experience pain because their nipple becomes sensitive. Another concern is that breastfeeding can cause contractions. As always, consult your doctor or midwife.

Nursing multiples can feel overwhelming. How do people nurse two or more babies? Women learn to identify when their baby is hungry or needs to comfort nurse. Peer support is very important.

Medication

Another issue to speak is medication. Generally, a good rule of thumb is that if it sfe during pregnancy, it is safe during nursing. Lactmed, InfantRisk and MotherRisk are great resources. Also, I suggest mentioning the importance of continued breastfeeding to your doctor when you must make medical decisions. Not all doctors are knowledgeable about breastfeeding though.

peer support is crucial at this time. Kind, informed nurses and doctors can make or break a bf relationship

Breastfeeding Gurus: Jack NewmanThere are also great videos that teach how to latch properly on this site. It looks at what is a shallow latch, baby led and mama led latching and breastfeeding myths. There are fact sheets as well. http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/Kellymom- Have a question about low supply, pumping, working, toddler nursing or weaning? Too late to call a lactation consultant? Kellymom is a good resource! Kelly Bonata is a lactation Consultant!http://kellymom.com/

Want to find out more information?
Head on over to the World Breastfeeding Week Website:

My peer support story is this: I was finishing off university so if baby wasn't nursing, my mom and fiance helped out by holding him so I could type assignments. I always felt validated in my decision to breastfed by my mom, my fiance and my online support group _- If I had any concerns my mom helped me find the head space to voice them. Also they didn't care if I NIP. That was so helpful because it was awkward figuring out how to adjust baby without showing off anything. This milk matters lactation support group on Facebook also helped me realize that it was normal for me not to respond to my pump. It didn't mean I had low supply~ Plus my son was always above the 90 percentile for height/ weight so I had nothing to worry about! Locally, my La Leche League supported me in my extended bf journey- I only regret not visiting them sooner!ps.. if your baby is on the skinny side or the short side, don't get upset! It is quite normal for babies to be of different sizes. Genetics factor into this as well! Do you feel like you had a peer support system while breastfeeding?

Friday, 26 July 2013

Finding a summer activity the whole family will enjoy can be difficult. One of the ways to choose an activity for various ages is to go to the movies. The theater always has a range of options if people want to go to different movies. Also, you can't go wrong with a family movie!. Its a great way to beat the heat! Plus, if you don't purchase from the concession stand, you can save money. One of my picks for this summer is the sequel to 2010's smash hit- Despicable Me. I watched it with my family. It was my little brother's choice for his birthday> i have to say that Despicable Me 2 had the same magic as the first film. All your favourites are back. including Gru, the girls and the lovable minions. There are few surprises along the way and the introduction of some new fabulous characters. It is a very cute story. My toddler man slept through the movie but enjoyed the previews.

Fun Fact: Lucy Wilde is voiced by the same person as Miss Hattie, the orphanage manage (Katie Wiig)

There are quite a few great looking family moves coming out this summer! I really want to see Monster's University and Turbo. How do you beat the heat in the summer?

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Thursday, 18 July 2013

Action Baby Carrier started out with mei tai style baby carriers that
were called Action Mom Carriers back in 2006 when a few family members
of Angela Alexander, the founder, were having babies. Angela didn't want
to do the typical purchase of baby gifts, but instead wanted to be a
bit creative so she figured she could sew a few baby carriers. The first
carrier she sewed took 9 hours! Wow! As she became better at sewing the
carriers, especially after sewing two more for her cousin who was
expecting twins, she was able to cut down the process time by quite a
bit. Action Baby Carriers are made in the USA, don't leave red marks on babies legs, has a great internal support system for weight displacement and they are also a great quality for an affordable price!

One lucky reader will win their choice of Action Baby/Toddler Carrier with a Value of $98 to $114!

This giveaway is open to people worldwide whom are at least 18 years of age at time of entrance.(void where prohibited) Giveaway will run from July 18th through August 8th. Winner will be chosen by random, notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Enter through the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win. Good luck!

Disclosure: GlutenFree+2 and other participating blogs are not responsible for shipment/fulfillment of prize. I received no monetary compensation for this publication. Review & Giveaway were conducted by Mami's 3 Little Monkeys blog, if you ave any questions please contact Sarh at mamis3littlemonkeys@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, 10 July 2013

I am so excited to join up with the Vagabond Studio in their month long Meditation and Yoga Challenge. I know yoga is not for everyone. However, I find the stretches and periods of inner silence calming. As well, my body just feels better after stretching.

Feel free to link up with us at the Vagabond Studio's page. There is also an associated Facebook page! There is a lot of support for this, including a newsletter! We are with you every step of the way.Also, I ask everyone to adapt one healthy habit for the month of July if yoga is not your style. Everyone should participate in activity that develops their soul. Ask yourself this question- What are you passionate about? What would you like to do with your life? What can you do right now to achieve this goal?
Answering this set of questions will propel you into a journey of self discovery. Also, i believe that what you learn about yourself will be quite rewarding.

I will keep you updated with my journey to inner peace and enlightenment I need to think about how I am going to include this challenge in my life. I am juggling job searching apartment hunting for the three of us and my little brother's summer vacation. Additionally, I need to learn to manage my time/ energy. Currently my little one has become a night owl with his teething episodes. That is the worst thing- lack of sleep.

I would be happy to commit to yoga and meditation three times a week. Even with a toddler in tow, it should be manageable. My plan is to do yoga Monday morning, followed by meditation, Wednesday evening followed by meditation to relax before going to sleep and Saturday morning to awaken followed again my meditation.

Care to join me in this yoga challenge? Do you have any health goals this summer?

Sunday, 7 July 2013

The
House of Crimson and Clover series follows the lives of two New
Orleans families: the august and mysterious Sullivans and Deschanels.
The Sullivans, a family of hard-working Irish lawyers, have come from
nothing and built a life they can be proud of. The Deschanels, a
moderately wealthy family who became extremely wealthy by siding with
the North during the Civil War, betraying their people. Both families
have a dark and rich history, full of secrets, and full of surprises.

The
books in this series unravel the stories of both the individuals as
well as the families themselves, discovering the ways these families
and their secrets intersect, and each story pulls us even farther
into their stories.

While
the series is meant to be treated as one long narrative, each book
can stand alone and be enjoyed without having read the other books.

Title:
The Storm and the Darkness

(The
House of Crimson and Clover series, book 2)

Ana
Deschanel has made a terrible mistake. The only chance of protecting
the other people involved is to flee New Orleans, the only home she
has ever known, for the quiet solitude of Summer Island.

Summer
Island, Maine (population 202) is not the tranquil escape Ana
imagined. The locals are distant and cold, especially her neighbor,
the reclusive veterinarian Jonathan St. Andrews. Her only lifeline is
the kind but odd caretaker Alex Whitman. Showing up at all the right
moments, he warns her she is completely unprepared for a Maine
winter. As the first winter storm approaches to whispers of an island
shutdown- Ana realizes that she may soon be cut off from the rest of
the world.

After
a surprising encounter with Jonathan’s brother, Finn, Ana finds
herself braving the storm to return something to him. Unprepared for
the Maine storm, she slips and falls onto the jagged rocks along the
shore. The St. Andrews brothers find her in the nick of time, but she
remains unconscious. As the storm worsens, the St. Andrews brothers
learn there are other, more sinister forces at work closer than they
ever imagined.

With
no help from the outside world, they must find a way to protect
themselves from both the storm, and the growing darkness that looms
across the island.

I received the Storm and the Darkness as an ARC for kindle. I am delighted to share my
perspective with you. It was not affected by the advance copy. This view is
100% my own and you may agree or disagree.

The Storm and the
Darkness is a very apt title. It is an engaging tale of Ana Deschanel
and how her life connects to the other characters. It is a story of
dealing with life's idiosyncrasies and the fallout of one's actions
(or inaction). Ana goes to Maine to get away from her current life.
She remains in close contact with her cousin, Nicholas and her father
Augustus. On the Island, she meets two brothers. Jon is solitary and
misunderstand. Finn is the more charming brother.

As the story
progresses, you learn why Ana chose to come to Maine. The
story is well developed. The characters are easy to relate to as they
deal with their daily struggles. It is interesting how one event can
be a catalyst for what happens in your future. It is amazing to see
how Ana, Jon and Finn develop into the story. You really get to know
what the characters are thinking and feelings. Also, the mix of gifts
in the story is very interesting. The setting is vivid. The novel is
a perfectly paced. As well it is very thought provoking and there are
numerous quotes I would love to share with you! Also, I want to mention the multiple point of views- Ms Cradit is very talented at writing them. They make sense and don't leave you feeling lost. This is the second book in the series, The House of Crimson and Clover and you can definitely read it without feeling completely overwhelmed. However, after reading this, I really want to get a hold of the first novel.

Author: Sarah M. Cradit

Sarah is the author of the Southern Fiction series, The House of Crimson and Clover. The series was born of her combined loves of New Orleans, family dramas, and the mysterious nature of love and desire. Her books combine elements of mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance, and even paranormal. She is always working on the next book in the series, and absolutely loves connecting with her fans.

Sarah lives in the Pacific Northwest, but has traveled the world from Asia to Europe to Africa. When she isn't working (either at her day career, or hard at work at writing), she is reading a book and discovering new authors. The great loves of her life (in order) are: her husband James, her writing, and traveling the world.

'Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.'

I was blessed to receive Laura Howard's The Forgotten Ones in a contest. Yay! I get to indulge my fantasy lover side. I love Celtic Mythology and The Forgotten Ones ties reality and ancient Celtic mythology perfectly.It is a new take on the story of the Fae. I was very intrigued by the plot line. This seemed like a story that could happen in real life. As well, I love reading about the fae. As well, it is interesting seeing how the main protagonist Alison, opened up during the course of the novel. Alison is easy to relate to. As someone who is also shy and determined to reach their goals, it is nice to read about someone like me :). Throw in some interesting characters, great scenes and writing and you have the recipe for an awesome novel. I can't wait to read the next installment. I thoroughly recommend giving it a try!

I know some people have difficulty with the ancient Irish names. The glossary at the end of the book is a necessary addition. Personally, I have a huge fascination with names. I am so glad that Ms. Howard took such care in using the proper mythological names. Connect with Laura Howard on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Do you like movies and popcorn? Then you will love the give-away hosted at Holiday Contests and Sweeps. With an ARV of $1002, you will find something for everyone. Prizes include various movie genres, including western and family movies. The Popcorn Company is offering a sampler and popcorn machine. There is also a portable dvd player. I am very excited to promote this give-away!

Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Offer your readers a chance to win an Action Baby Carrier of their choice ($98-$114ARV)!

Giveaway Details: Open to US residents

Will run from July18th through August 1st

Bloggers: Receive 2 free links with announcement post or pay the small fee.

You will have the option to purchase 2 additional links.

Referral
System! The blogger w/the most referrals will be one of our co-hosts (4
free links, link back to your blog as well as at least 1 follow page on
your blog). So make sure your promoting this sign-up!!

Wednesday, July 3rdIf you have been following my blog- you know that we are celebrating a Preference for Prefolds, courtesy of the Median Mommy! Check her out on Facebook! We have some lovely prizes lined up for today. I hope you are enjoying yourselves

Welcome to Day 3 of The Median Mommy's Preference for Prefolds Party! Prize Pack #3 is another amazing pack, full of wonderful handcrafted cloth diapering goodies!

Green Mother Crafts is the result of Jo and Angela's more than 20 years of experience cloth diapering! Founded with a commitment towards the earth, Green Mother Crafts' goal is "to make affordable products that are functional, stylish, and have a positive impact on our environment." Selling locally for 3 years, Green Mother Crafts recently expanded to begin selling their earth-friendly products online. GMC's beautifully crafted items range from mama cloth, to wet bags, to cloth diapers and covers. I had the opportunity to try one of GMC's Hybrid Fitted diapers (and LOVED it), you can check out the reviewhere. You can check out her latest creations and special offers on her Facebook page here.

The beautiful creations of Rumor Has It are the handywork of Constance. I was drawn to Constance's Etsy store by the beautiful fabrics and designs she uses to create her handbags, wallets, burp cloths and blankets. You can also find her on Facebook here.

Gotcha Covered Diapers is the handiwork of Emily Hicks, having started creating diaper covers for her cloth diapering daughter. Once she started, Emily said that she "fell in love with designing and making these!" You can purchase any of her fun and funky prints, with sizes fitting 2-40 lbs., in her Etsy store here. You can also see her latest additions special offers posted on her Facebook page.

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Another give-away in the Preference for Prefolds Party! Who is excited to try out some new prefolds?
Well, my American friends, check what the Median Mommy has for you!

Welcome to the second day of the Preference for Prefolds Party, hosted by The Median Mommy! Today I have another amazing prefold-related prize pack! Please check out these amazing sponsors below:

Founded in 2000, Babykicks is a family-owned and operated business based out of Maryland, making cloth diapers and accessories with natural and organic materials. Known for their hemp diapers & soakers, Babykicks are luxoriously soft, incredibly absorbent, and possess anti-microbial properties.

Kirsten Schultz is the artisan behind Sew Little, crafting everything from diaper covers, inserts, wipes to carriers. Her assortment of items, and colorful prints, make Sew Little a must visit store for new or expecting mamas!

Hybrid prefolds seem to be the newest craze in the cloth diapering world, and Adrianna Knits is the place to go for them! Adrianna creates beautiful fitted prefolds, and will even convert your old prefolds into fitteds (I'm thinking about doing this with my toddler-sized prefolds). Not limited to diapers, Adrianna Knits is the perfect place to get adorable knitted hats for your newborn! You can visit her on Facebook here.

Snappi Baby, creators of the pin-less diaper fasteners, Snappis -- one of the greatest inventions since sliced bread!

Monday, 1 July 2013

Welcome to The Median Mommy's Preference for Prefolds Party, July 1-21! July marks The Median Mommy's 1 year cloth diapering anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than by highlighting her favorite cloth diapering option -- The Prefold! With so many boutique-y diapers out there, the prefold is often an overlooked and underrated cloth diapering option. To help spread the word (and prefold love) this month-long celebration is going to feature THREE great prefold prize packages and lots of posts pertaining to everything...PREFOLDS!

Without further adieu, let's introduce the first prize pack sponsors:

Bummis holds a special place in my heart, as their unbleached organic cotton newborn prefolds were the first cloth diapers on my little guy's bum. It was Bummis that made me fall in love with prefolds, and doubt that anything other than a prefold would be able to contain those explosive early breastfeeding poos.